katalyst777

I decided to download the trial version of Suite 2017 to be able to view your plan, and other than just manually creating the dormer (which would probably be easier) the only solution I could find was to use the Adjust Material Definition tool in a camera view to change the tan siding to be blended about the same color blue as the rest of the siding.

It's not perfect though because the texture's still just noticeably different enough.

No idea why you can't use the eyedropper/material painter combo to change it, because the eyedropper picks up the material fine, and the status bar shows the tan siding as the "Target" but it doesn't seem to do anything . . . so I'd probably suggest sending in to the company's Support people.

I'm intending to use CA Home Designer Architectural to design a cargotecture home using (the extremely standardised) containers. It seems to me that at the moment C HDA does not support the particular features cargotecture offers. It would be a great addition. This is specifically in relation to foundation requirements, structural re-inforcement requirements when altering container walls, etc.

 

Looks like it's back to drawing by hand...

I've never heard the term "cargotecture" before, and I'm not sure if there is a design program out there that might cater to that style better, but you can at least try posting in the "Suggestions" section of the forum to get it added to the list of feature requests that the company people maintain.

You're a professional wanting to use the software for a job, so anything less than Home Designer Pro probably isn't going to cut it long-term.

I would agree with David's suggestion about looking in to the Chief Architect Interiors version due to its ray trace capabilities, as well as all the extra manufacturer catalogs that aren't offered for Home Designer programs.

However, you could always start out with a Home Designer program and choose to upgrade to a more advanced version if you just get too frustrated by its limitations and really need the tools the more advanced program offers.

For learning, since you've already got a trial version installed, go through the User's Guide (under the program's Help menu).  It takes you start to finish through creating a basic project.  Yes, you might be doing some things in the tutorials you won't need in the long run for your limited usage, but it's good to know how things work and where the tools are if you do need them in the future.

Look at the end of the article, I'd guess the "Print in Color" checkbox is selected in the Print View dialog when you went to create the PDF.

I think some other responders misread the question and didn't look at the plan/screenshot very closely.

The double lines in the ROOF along the right of your manual bay bumpout have to do with the location of your invisible wall, if you move it slightly to the right a bit more, you won't get the second roof plane generating there.

Once you get the roof how you want, turn UNCHECK Auto Rebuild Roofs in the Build Roof dialog, then you can delete those little extra rooms created with room dividers and still have the roof remain intact the way you want.

KB-00358: Automatically Building a One and a Half Story Roof

Pro has this, I really doubt it's in Architectural though.

If you use the "Search" box on the Home Designer website for "Black and white floor plan" the first result is . . .

KB-00372: Toggling Off Color in Floor Plan View

While in the Elevation, access Display Options and see what layers aren't displayed. Most likely the Furnishings and Fixtures layers aren't toggled "on."

Since Suite doesn't have a Custom Countertop, you're going to need to use something else for the same purpose, like a Corner Soffit or maybe Shapes from the Library Browser.

I would think that the Chief Architect Premier or Interiors, which have more cabinet options with feet/sides/back and Schedules might be a better fit. Maybe check out the trial versions?

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/trial.html

You can request a free trial version from their website to compare the differences from the New Features link that solver provided.

https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/trial.html

The 3D Navigation and corner windows from the list look nice, but I don't see anything major jumping out at me personally to justify the upgrade right now.

KB-02974: Building a Second Story Over Part of a House

What? I do not understand this comment or its relevance? Could you explain this comment please, cause I am not with you? Thank-you in advance.

What does this have to do with scale?

Notice that the "Vector View Options" in English's screenshot at the bottom of the Send to Layout dialog are greyed out.

So the program knows he's not in a Vector View, which elevations typically are, and have to be in order for them to be scaled when sent to layout.

If he's not in a Vector View, but he's confident he's in an elevation, and not say a floor plan, then he likely activated different rendering technique, so switching back to Vector and then resending the view to the layout should show the "Vector View Options" available, as well as the "Scaling" settings.

Hope this helps to explain the logic a bit more. 

If you only have Current Screen as Image available, I'm guessing you've accidentally switched out of the "Vector" rendering technique in your Cross Section/Elevation view.

KB-00888: Importing 3D Symbols

I would save and attach thumbnails but can't figure out how to do that.  I tried File-Save Thumbnail Image - but I can't seem to find them anywhere?  I searched the forums but didn't find info on that process either. 

 

Thanks....Charlie

KB-00326: Creating a Screenshot

KB-00582: Sending Plan Files

Seems like we get a lot of questions from people that don't know how to change the materials on their walls, or have changed their wall materials and don't know how to get them back, like if they have a glass shower wall in a bathroom that they've "spray painted" a different material to the whole room and overwrote the wall's material based on its type.

From the program's Help:

Wall Materials

There are several ways that materials can be assigned to walls, depending on how the walls and the rooms they define have been defined.

• When you draw a wall, it uses the materials specified in its wall type definition.
   
• You can change the surface material of an individual wall in the Wall Specification dialog.
• If you select “Use Default” as the material and the wall is used to define a room, the program refers to the material specified in the Room Specification dialog.
   
• You can also change a room’s wall material in the Room Specification dialog.
• To restore the default Wall Type material, select Use Default in the Select Library Object dialog.
   
• Wall materials can also be changed using the Material Painter tool, but bear in mind that the entire room will often be affected, rather than the individual wall.
   
• When neither the wall nor the room has a material assigned to it, the program refers to the general material for walls in the Material Defaults dialog.

Try posting in Seeking Services on ChiefTalk.

KB-00564: How to have two Detached Buildings at Different Elevations Display Correctly

No, you cannot use it on a Wall Elevation.

You can send someone the plan (using the Backup Entire Plan tool and compress the folder to send to them) and they can request a free copy of the Chief Architect Viewer to take camera views of the plan.

Only the Chief Architect Premier version of the software can export or import DWG files.

where is the best place to put in a feature request?

The Suggestions section.

However, even though there isn't a simple setting for it, you can probably get the door where you want by setting up your wall type right (example with an extra exterior wall layer in red to make the wall thicker).

Do you have an example for reference?

KB-00582: Sending Plan Files to Another User